CHAPTERPAGEI. INTRODUCTION15A glance over Christian era—Early church divinely governed—Spiritual decline—A false church—Reformations—Sixteenth century reformation—Human rule—Characteristics of true church—A final reformation—Evil of sects—Protestantism in Revelation—Wondrous times upon us—God's call to his people—D. S. Warner a reformer—The correct attitude—Counterfeit movements.II. ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE34Emigration westward—Settlement in Ohio—David Warner family—Born a weakling—Paternal and maternal influences—Tributes to mother—Location in Crawford County—A chosen vessel—His boyhood character—Removal to Williams County—A school teacher.III. CONVERSION, COLLEGE, AND CALLING44The question of religion—A Catholic and Lutheran community—Tries to be an infidel—Conviction by the Spirit—Attends dances—Conversion—Attends Oberlin College—Preparation for ministry.IV. CHURCH OF GOD (WINEBRENNERIAN)51The Scriptural name—Winebrenner's view of the church—Organization of Elderships—Growth and extent westward—Winebrenner's failure.V. FIRST YEARS IN MINISTRY59Gifted as an evangelist—Marriage—Death of wife and children—His physical description—New Washington revival—Diary accounts—Prejudice against sanctification—Meeting at Basswood—A presentiment of death—Standing committee—Rebukes youthful tobacco-user—Converses with infidel—Reflections at end of year—Appointed to Nebraska mission—Lessons on the church—A farewell meeting.VI. A NEBRASKA MISSION78The Nebraska field—The journey—Nebraska scenes—Reflections on his bride-to-be—Builds house—Returns to Ohio—Marriage—Resumes Nebraska work—All night in dugout—Outlook temporarily reversed—Long trips over prairie—Wife lonely—Visit to Indian camp—Fast in snow-drift—Birth of a daughter—Break in diary account.VII. BACK IN OHIO FIELDS110On Ashland circuit—News of mother's death—Visits penitentiary—A course of studies at Vermillion College—Embraces the cause of holiness—Seeks and obtains the experience.VIII. THE HOLINESS AWAKENING125Doctrine of sanctification—Widespread interest in the subject—Prominent leaders—Holiness bands—Doctrine opposed—Its advocates recede on the church question—A remnant who walk in the light—Holiness editors—Jacksonville convention.IX. A PREACHER OF HOLINESS137A rather new field of activity—Writes for publication—Meets with opposition—Tirade and charges by fellow minister—Canton camp-meeting—Eldership meeting at Smithville, faces charges—Assigned to Stark circuit—Visits father and place of conversion—Locates at Canton—Writes covenant with God—Return to Upper Sandusky—Revival at Findlay—Reflections on New Year's Day—Expulsion from West Ohio Eldership—Meetings at Dunkirk—Increasing vision of apostolic church—A peculiar test—Work opens in Indiana—Death of father and daughter—Attends Ohio Holiness Camp-Meeting—Brought low with affliction.X. NORTHERN INDIANA ELDERSHIP191Opposition to Freemasonry—New Eldership formed—Becomes an associate editor—Herald of Gospel Freedom.XI. EDITOR AND AUTHOR196Locates at Rome City, Ind.—Writes book—Attends various camp-meetings—Mob at Upper Sandusky—Remarkable healings—Eldership seeks union with Mennonites—Close of diary account—Becomes editor of Herald.XII. A SPIRITUAL SHAKING210Prophetic description of reformation movement—Old Testament figures—Shakings incident to divine visitations—New covenant complete in entire sanctification—Prophecies that apply to these times—Separation of wheat and chaff—Arguments against sects—Entire sanctification a remedy—Unity the hope of God's people.XIII. A PROPHETIC TIME241Many world events foreshadowed in prophecy—God has a design with man—Events of the world grouped in periods—The four world empires—The fourth given particular attention—Thelittle horn of Daniel 7—Time periods of Romanism and Protestantism—Corresponding prophecies in Revelation—What Babylon is—God's people called out of her.XIV. THE GOSPEL TRUMPET251Consolidation of Herald of Gospel Freedom with the Pilgrim, forming the Gospel Trumpet—Rome City its birthplace—Move to Indianapolis—Difficulties and privations—Paper issued irregularly—Printed on hand-press—Move to Cardington, Ohio, and later to Bucyrus—To Williamston, Mich., in 1884, and to Grand Junction in 1886—Substantial progress.XV. THE CRISIS271Unity effected only out of and away from sects—No other alternative for God's people—Brother Warner a reformer—His stand meets Satan's opposition, but vindicated by Spirit of God-Extracts from Gospel Trumpet—Declares himself free from Northern Indiana Eldership—Same stand taken by Michigan saints—Counterfeit doctrines—Trying time at Bucyrus, Ohio—His wife's estrangement—Comments by contemporary editors—Trouble over donation by a Mrs. Booth—Letters of sympathy and encouragement—Work spreads into various States—Emma Miller's healing of blindness—Other marvelous healings—Defection of J. C. Fisher—How the reformation is distinguished from all other movements.XVI. EVANGELISTIC TOURS335Trip into Pennsylvania—Various healings—Attacked by intoxicated man—Woman delivered from devils—Visits Winebrennerian camp—An incident of Beaver Dam assembly—Company of singers formed—Wonderful meeting in Indiana—Storm stayed in answer to prayer—Mob near Rising Sun, Ohio—A Western tour—Strange manifestations at St. James, Mo.—To Denver—Meetings in Canada—In the Southern field—Mob element in Mississippi—Visits Mammoth Cave—Visits the church in California—Scenery of the Rockies.XVII. THE MINISTRY OF SONG407Adaptation of existing hymns—Occasions that suggested various hymns—Instances of the effect of song.XVIII. POETIC INSPIRATIONS422Gifted as a poet—A book of poems—Various examples of poems.XIX. LAST YEARS443Hoped for long life—Difficulty in combining writing with evangelical work—Could not remain long out of the field—Begins to write a book on prophecy—Third marriage—Ohio River campaign—Last New Year's greeting—A school on the camp-ground—Last sermon—End of the journey.XX. AS OTHERS KNEW HIM456Statements of various individuals—Author's statement—Reflections at his grave.SUPPLEMENT for this reprint edition478

CHAPTERPAGE

I. INTRODUCTION15

A glance over Christian era—Early church divinely governed—Spiritual decline—A false church—Reformations—Sixteenth century reformation—Human rule—Characteristics of true church—A final reformation—Evil of sects—Protestantism in Revelation—Wondrous times upon us—God's call to his people—D. S. Warner a reformer—The correct attitude—Counterfeit movements.

II. ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE34

Emigration westward—Settlement in Ohio—David Warner family—Born a weakling—Paternal and maternal influences—Tributes to mother—Location in Crawford County—A chosen vessel—His boyhood character—Removal to Williams County—A school teacher.

III. CONVERSION, COLLEGE, AND CALLING44

The question of religion—A Catholic and Lutheran community—Tries to be an infidel—Conviction by the Spirit—Attends dances—Conversion—Attends Oberlin College—Preparation for ministry.

IV. CHURCH OF GOD (WINEBRENNERIAN)51

The Scriptural name—Winebrenner's view of the church—Organization of Elderships—Growth and extent westward—Winebrenner's failure.

V. FIRST YEARS IN MINISTRY59

Gifted as an evangelist—Marriage—Death of wife and children—His physical description—New Washington revival—Diary accounts—Prejudice against sanctification—Meeting at Basswood—A presentiment of death—Standing committee—Rebukes youthful tobacco-user—Converses with infidel—Reflections at end of year—Appointed to Nebraska mission—Lessons on the church—A farewell meeting.

VI. A NEBRASKA MISSION78

The Nebraska field—The journey—Nebraska scenes—Reflections on his bride-to-be—Builds house—Returns to Ohio—Marriage—Resumes Nebraska work—All night in dugout—Outlook temporarily reversed—Long trips over prairie—Wife lonely—Visit to Indian camp—Fast in snow-drift—Birth of a daughter—Break in diary account.

VII. BACK IN OHIO FIELDS110

On Ashland circuit—News of mother's death—Visits penitentiary—A course of studies at Vermillion College—Embraces the cause of holiness—Seeks and obtains the experience.

VIII. THE HOLINESS AWAKENING125

Doctrine of sanctification—Widespread interest in the subject—Prominent leaders—Holiness bands—Doctrine opposed—Its advocates recede on the church question—A remnant who walk in the light—Holiness editors—Jacksonville convention.

IX. A PREACHER OF HOLINESS137

A rather new field of activity—Writes for publication—Meets with opposition—Tirade and charges by fellow minister—Canton camp-meeting—Eldership meeting at Smithville, faces charges—Assigned to Stark circuit—Visits father and place of conversion—Locates at Canton—Writes covenant with God—Return to Upper Sandusky—Revival at Findlay—Reflections on New Year's Day—Expulsion from West Ohio Eldership—Meetings at Dunkirk—Increasing vision of apostolic church—A peculiar test—Work opens in Indiana—Death of father and daughter—Attends Ohio Holiness Camp-Meeting—Brought low with affliction.

X. NORTHERN INDIANA ELDERSHIP191

Opposition to Freemasonry—New Eldership formed—Becomes an associate editor—Herald of Gospel Freedom.

XI. EDITOR AND AUTHOR196

Locates at Rome City, Ind.—Writes book—Attends various camp-meetings—Mob at Upper Sandusky—Remarkable healings—Eldership seeks union with Mennonites—Close of diary account—Becomes editor of Herald.

XII. A SPIRITUAL SHAKING210

Prophetic description of reformation movement—Old Testament figures—Shakings incident to divine visitations—New covenant complete in entire sanctification—Prophecies that apply to these times—Separation of wheat and chaff—Arguments against sects—Entire sanctification a remedy—Unity the hope of God's people.

XIII. A PROPHETIC TIME241

Many world events foreshadowed in prophecy—God has a design with man—Events of the world grouped in periods—The four world empires—The fourth given particular attention—Thelittle horn of Daniel 7—Time periods of Romanism and Protestantism—Corresponding prophecies in Revelation—What Babylon is—God's people called out of her.

XIV. THE GOSPEL TRUMPET251

Consolidation of Herald of Gospel Freedom with the Pilgrim, forming the Gospel Trumpet—Rome City its birthplace—Move to Indianapolis—Difficulties and privations—Paper issued irregularly—Printed on hand-press—Move to Cardington, Ohio, and later to Bucyrus—To Williamston, Mich., in 1884, and to Grand Junction in 1886—Substantial progress.

XV. THE CRISIS271

Unity effected only out of and away from sects—No other alternative for God's people—Brother Warner a reformer—His stand meets Satan's opposition, but vindicated by Spirit of God-Extracts from Gospel Trumpet—Declares himself free from Northern Indiana Eldership—Same stand taken by Michigan saints—Counterfeit doctrines—Trying time at Bucyrus, Ohio—His wife's estrangement—Comments by contemporary editors—Trouble over donation by a Mrs. Booth—Letters of sympathy and encouragement—Work spreads into various States—Emma Miller's healing of blindness—Other marvelous healings—Defection of J. C. Fisher—How the reformation is distinguished from all other movements.

XVI. EVANGELISTIC TOURS335

Trip into Pennsylvania—Various healings—Attacked by intoxicated man—Woman delivered from devils—Visits Winebrennerian camp—An incident of Beaver Dam assembly—Company of singers formed—Wonderful meeting in Indiana—Storm stayed in answer to prayer—Mob near Rising Sun, Ohio—A Western tour—Strange manifestations at St. James, Mo.—To Denver—Meetings in Canada—In the Southern field—Mob element in Mississippi—Visits Mammoth Cave—Visits the church in California—Scenery of the Rockies.

XVII. THE MINISTRY OF SONG407

Adaptation of existing hymns—Occasions that suggested various hymns—Instances of the effect of song.

XVIII. POETIC INSPIRATIONS422

Gifted as a poet—A book of poems—Various examples of poems.

XIX. LAST YEARS443

Hoped for long life—Difficulty in combining writing with evangelical work—Could not remain long out of the field—Begins to write a book on prophecy—Third marriage—Ohio River campaign—Last New Year's greeting—A school on the camp-ground—Last sermon—End of the journey.

XX. AS OTHERS KNEW HIM456

Statements of various individuals—Author's statement—Reflections at his grave.

SUPPLEMENT for this reprint edition478

ANDREW L. BYERS, Author of this BookOffice EditorGospel Trumpet.

Back to Index Next

CONTENTS